With the kids in Bristol: Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway

My kiddies both love steam engines, so what better way to spend a family day out than on the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Steam Railway (GWSR).

After packing the car, we started our adventure by catching the steam train at Cheltenham Racecourse, which is the start of the line. As usual, we arrived early which gave us the perfect excuse to grab a couple of hot chocolates and muffins but it wasn’t long before we could hear the whistle from the steam train.

It gentle chugged into the station, like a graceful giant, and my kids watched in awe as the train was prepped for its returning journey back up the line, which ends at the newly-refurbished Broadway Station, near Evesham on the northern fringe of the Cotswolds. The children stayed frozen, intrigued by what the engineer was doing as he re-coupled the engine to the carriages, only to be unfrozen by the inspector requesting passengers to board.

The steam train line passes through lovely countryside around the Cotswolds

We decided to board the nearest carriage, which coincidently was First Class – one of the few times where it doesn’t cost more. The carriages were drawn by one of GWSR’s fleet of five restored steam locomotives, all built between 1905 and 1950, while the carriages themselves were wood-panelled with comfortable seats and big windows to watch the world go by.

We made ourselves comfortable as we were heading for Toddington, which is towards the end of the line. It is one of the larger stations and has lots to do for children. We passed through Gotherington, Winchcombe and Hayles Abbey Halt, taking in the beautiful countryside on the way. As soon as we reached our stop, there was no holding back the kiddies as it was lunchtime and a trip to the Flag & Whistle Cafe was calling.

We kept it simple, with meals of ham, egg and chips, fish fingers and jacket potatoes. It may have been simple but it was very filling, which meant just one thing: we needed to walk it off. We took a stroll around the grounds before heading straight for the Narrow Gauge Train, which is run independent from GWSR and staffed completely by volunteers.

Watching the trains go by makes for a lovely afternoon out

The line is narrower than a traditional line at just two feet and runs only three-quarters of a mile. At the end of the line, Caroline Crossing, you’re treated to a 16mm miniature garden railway, which the children loved. We also had a look inside the crossing box as well as inside the large shed that houses the rolling stock when it’s not in use.

As we got back to the main station, there was only ten minutes to spare before our return journey, which was just enough time for the kids to play in the play area with its steam train theme before we heard the whistle of the imminently-arriving steam train ready to take us to Broadway.

Broadway station was opened to the public earlier this year having been built entirely by volunteers. The original station building was demolished when the line closed, but has been rebuilt in the original styling. This was an ideal opportunity to stretch our legs and take in the beauty of this sympathetically-done restoration. This year GWSR has seen volunteer numbers increase by 54 per cent, which could be due to the Broadway effect.

The vintage interior of the First Class carriage

It was starting to get late and so we boarded the train for our homeward journey, though what I hadn’t quite anticpated was my children’s need for a sugar fix – more specifically, ice cream. The staff on the train were brilliant, and when the train stopped at Winchcombe we were escorted to the shop to buy some. My children had smiles on their faces from ear to ear: easily pleased, but there was no better way to end a fun-packed day.

Train tickets for GWSR cost £18 for adults, £8 for children and under-5s go free. Discounts are available if tickets are bought in advanced. Visit www.gwsr.com to find out more.